Amendment Procedure MCQs with Answers & Explanations

The Third Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan was enacted on February 13, 1975. This amendment was significant as it extended the period for which a person could be held in preventive detention and made changes to the laws regarding the detention of individuals without trial.

The Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan was passed by the Parliament and received the President's assent on July 27, 1991. This amendment was primarily concerned with the establishment of Special Courts for the speedy trial of heinous offences, aiming to address the law and order situation prevalent at that time in the country.

The Constitution (Eighth Amendment) Act, 1985, was passed by the Parliament and received the President's assent on November 9, 1985. It was subsequently published in the Official Gazette of Pakistan on November 11, 1985. This amendment is widely regarded as one of the most consequential changes to the 1973 Constitution, fundamentally shifting the system towards a semi-presidential form of government.

The Constitution (Twelfth Amendment) Act, 1991, was published in the Gazette of Pakistan on July 28, 1991. This amendment was primarily concerned with the establishment of Special Courts for the speedy trial of heinous offences. Note: The source explanation mentions the Indian Constitution, which is factually incorrect regarding the context of the Pakistani Twelfth Amendment.

Article 238 of the Constitution of Pakistan provides the legal framework and authority for the Parliament to amend the Constitution. It specifies that the Constitution may be amended by an Act of Parliament, provided that the bill is passed by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total membership of each House. This ensures that the supreme law of the land remains stable yet adaptable to evolving national needs.

The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan, 1973, was officially passed and enacted on November 21, 1975. This amendment primarily focused on restricting the power of the High Courts to grant bail in certain cases and modified provisions related to the representation of minorities in the National Assembly.

The Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution of Pakistan was primarily focused on the process of appointing judges to the superior courts and the functioning of the Judicial Commission of Pakistan. The bill was passed by the National Assembly and the Senate, and it received the formal assent of the President on January 1, 2011, officially incorporating these changes into the constitutional framework.

The Seventh Amendment to the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan was enacted on May 16, 1977. This amendment was introduced by the government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to allow the Prime Minister to obtain a vote of confidence from the National Assembly, aiming to address the political crisis and opposition protests following the 1977 general elections.